The Los Alamos County Democratic Party Central Committee unanimously elected Michael Redondo to replace Kenneth Johnson on the Democratic ticket for the Los Alamos county council race. Johnson withdrew on Aug. 17, saying he would likely be moving away from the county before the term had ended.

Redondo was the only candidate to put himself forward to fill the vacancy. He had contemplated entering the race before the primaries, but had chosen not to run so he could pursue a job with the county. The county position is no longer an option, so Redondo decided to throw his hat in.

"I care for this town. I want to see it prosper. I want to see people like myself be able to come back to this town, having grown up here, and be able to get a job, and that job not necessarily be at the lab," Redondo said. "I think this community really needs to think about diversifying its economy. In essence, it's a one company town, and unless you are willing and can get a job at the lab, it's difficult for people who grew up here to be able to stay."

At approximately10 a.m. Monday morning a contractor severed an underground electric line while removing a section of sidewalk, leaving businesses on the south side of Trinity from 20th to the end DP Road without power for a brief period of time.

Electric line crews with the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities responded and rerouted power around the damaged section to restore power in less than 30 minutes. Permanent repairs will be scheduled in the near future.

In a unanimous decision, the Los Alamos county council voted Geoff Rodgers in as Vice Chair Tuesday evening. The position was vacated when Ron Selvage resigned last week.

Council also voted unanimously on a procedure for filling Selvage's seat. Staff was directed to solicit letters of intent from those interested in the position, with a deadline of 5 p.m. Aug. 28. Council will select a candidate in a special session on Sept. 6.

An evening rain in upper Frijoles Canyon Wednesday sent high water down Frijoles Creek, washing away three temporary bridges in Bandelier National Monument. Bridges along the trail to Alcove House and the second bridge on the Falls Trail were washed away.

The high water also closed Hwy 501 and sections of Hwy 4 temporarily.

Chief Ranger Tom Betts said the temporary bridges were designed for such events.

“Our talented trail crew designed split log and rail bridges which are very simple and very cost effective,” Betts said. “We built them knowing they would wash away at some point.”

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Shelby Tisdale, the director of the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture in Santa Fe, is leaving her post.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the Autry National Center in Los Angeles recently announced Tisdale has been appointed to the center's newly created position of vice president of curatorial and exhibitions.

Tisdale will be working at the Autry with Rick West, the founding director of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., who was named president and CEO of the Autry just last month.

Los Alamos County Council has declared the month of May 2012 as "National Preservation Month" in Los Alamos County.

WHEREAS: Historic preservation is an effective tool for managing growth and sustainable development, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride and maintaining community character while enhancing livability; and

WHEREAS: Historicpreservation is relevant for communities across the nation, both urban and rural, and for Americans of all ages, all walks of life and all ethnic backgrounds; and

The Los Alamos County Council has issued a proclamation declaring the Week of May 13-20, 2012 as "Homestead Commemoration Week" in Los Alamos, in celebration of the kickoff for the Los Alamos Homestead Tour.

WHEREAS: On May 20, 150 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act; and

WHEREAS: Homesteading began on the Pajarito Plateau in the late 1880s; and